Bosses at East Sussex Hospitals NHS Trust, which runs the hospital in The Ridge, together with Eastbourne's District General Hospital (DGH) feared one of its A&E units would have to close because the trust is struggling to recruit enough doctors.
Irene Dibben, the trust's chairman, said: "It is necessary for us to continue to provide a high quality A&E service to the public but it has been more difficult to recruit doctors over the last 18 months due to changes in medical training."

The issue was discussed at a board meeting on Wednesday and bosses agreed to offer extra working hours and an enhanced rate of pay to attract and retain middle grade doctors - those with several years of experience - in A&E.

Other options included diverting ambulances away from either the DGH or the Conquest between 8pm and 7am or doing nothing at all.

Dr David Hughes, the trust's medical director, said: "We're desperate to reassure the population of East Sussex that we're going to be providing emergency access at both hospitals.

"It is a national problem recruiting middle grade doctors in A&E but both the Conquest and DGH have enough doctors to provide safe cover 24 hours a day.

"We are in a safe position but anticipate difficulties if we cannot recruit more.

"Patients can still access emergency care at the medical assessment units at both hospitals without going through A&E."

The trust has been actively recruiting both nationally and internationally for high quality candidates over the last two years and said it hoped the recruitment drive will become easier with the new incentives.

The average salary of specialist emergency doctors is expected to rise by about £10,000 to about £78,000 a year in an effort to retain their skills and to tempt new doctors.

The trust hopes to implement its decision from August in time for the new intake of middle grade doctors rotating between NHS hospitals.

The Conquest has funding for eight middle grade doctors but has the equivalent of 4.7 full-time staff until August when two are expected to leave the hospital.

The DGH has funding for six middle grade doctors, but only has two working at the hospital.

Hospital campaigners said any move to close A&E would threaten lives.
Margaret Williams, chairman of Hands off the Conquest, said: "I hope the trust does not have to go down this route. We will have to keep a careful watch on this."

Amber Rudd, Conservative parliamentary candidate for Hastings and Rye, said: "I have personal experience of the Conquest A&E as only last month, I had to drive my 18-year-old daughter there to get stitches to her foot following a collision with a glass.

"The A&E was packed. There were people with all sorts of injuries and policemen escorting one man in handcuffs. We received an excellent service and drove home again three hours after she had received six stitches and an X-ray.

"We will not accept any cuts to this vital local service."